Page 29. _Nonsense. Now Gentlemen, if, &c._
Two other “Messes of Nonsense” may be found in _Recreations for Ingenious Headpieces_, 1645 (Reprint, _Wit’s Recreations_, pp. 400, 401); beginning “When _Neptune’s_ blasts,” and “Like to the tone of unspoke speeches.” The latter we believe to have been written by Bishop Corbet. In _Wit’s Merriment_ (i.e. _Sportive Wit_), 1656, is the following: A FANCY:—
_When Py crust first began to reign,_ _Cheese parings went to warre._ _Red Herrings lookt both blew and wan,_ _Green leeks and Puddings jarre._ _Blind Hugh went out to see_ _Two Cripples run a race,_ _The Ox fought with the Humble Bee,_ _And claw’d him by the face._
Page 36, lines 21, 22. _“Honest Dick;” and “L.”_
These lines furnish a clue to the date of this ballad, (and its “Answer” quickly followed): “Honest Dick” being Richard Cromwell, whose Protectorate lasted only eight months, beginning in September, 1658. “The name with an L—” refers to his unscrupulous rival Lambert; with his spasmodic attempts at supremacy, urged on by his own ambition and that of his wife (accustomed too long to rule Oliver himself, during a close intimacy, not without exciting scandal, while she insisted on displacing Lady Dysart). For an account of Lambert’s twenty-one years of captivity, first at Guernsey and later at Plymouth, see _Choice Notes on History, from N. and Q._, 1858, pp. 155-163. Lambert played a selfish game, lost it, and needs no pity for having had to pay the stakes. But for “Honest Dick,” “Tumble down Dick,” who had warmly pleaded with his father to save the king’s life in the fatal January of 1649, we keep a hearty liking. Carlyle stigmatizes him as “poor, idle, trivial,” &c., but let that pass. Had Richard been crafty or cruel, like those who removed him from power, his reign might have been prolonged. But “what a wounded name” he would have then left behind, compared with his now stainless character: and, in any case, his ultimate fall was certain.
Page 43, line 16th, “_Call for a constable blurt._”
An allusion to Middleton’s Comedy, “Blurt, Master Constable,” 1602.
Page 62, 368. _Will you hear a strange thing._
The important event here described took place April 20th, 1653, and the ballad immediately followed. (Compare “Cheer up, kind country men,” by S. S., “Rebellion hath broken up house,” and “This Christmas time,” in the Percy Soc. Pol. Bds., iii. 126; 180 _Loyal Songs_, 149, 1694; _Rump_, ii. 52.) At this date the strife between the fag-end of the Rump and Oliver, who was supported by his council of officers, came to open violence. Fearing his increased power, it was proposed to strengthen the Parliamentarians by admitting a body of “neutrals,” Presbyterians, to act in direct opposition against the army-leaders. With a pretence of dissolving themselves there would have ensued a virtual extension of rule. Anxious and lengthy meetings had been held by Cromwell’s adherents at Whitehall, one notably on the 19th, and continued throughout the night. Despite a promise, or half promise, of delay made to him, the Rump was meantime hurrying onward the objectionable measure, clearly with intention of limiting his influence: among the leaders being Sir Hy. Vane, Harry Marten, and Algernon Sidney. They knew it to be a struggle for life or death. From the beginning, this Long Parliament cherished the mistaken idea that they were everything supreme: providence, strength, virtue, and wisdom, etc., etc. If mere empty talk could be all this, such representative wind-bags might deserve some credit. Their doom was sealed; not alone for their incompetence, but also for proved malignity, and the attempt to perpetuate their own mischief, destroying the only power that seemed able to bring order out of chaos.
